SMITH DEMANDS FAIR FARES FOR FIFE

12.55.00pm GMT Tue 18th Nov 2008

Iain Smith MSP with local Taybridgehead Councillors Maggie Taylor and Tim Brett at Leuchars Railway station

Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife, Iain Smith, has demanded the SNP take action to cut the price of travelling by rail in Fife.

The Scottish Government has announced that it has secured a lower rate of fare increase for rail passengers in Strathclyde to 'align Strathclyde fares changes with the rest of Scotland'. No such action has been promised for Fife rail passengers.

Fife train fares are amongst the highest in Scotland. Liberal Democrats in Fife exposed a price penalty of over £50 for travelling in Fife when compared with journeys of a similar distance and time elsewhere in Scotland.

Commenting, Mr Smith said:

"The Scottish Government's steps to make sure that rail passengers in Strathclyde do not pay more than those in the rest of Scotland are a slap in the face to rail passengers in Fife.

"Fife commuters pay on average £50 more than those in other parts of Scotland. I will not allow Scottish Ministers to forget about Fife. We deserve the same fare protection as every other rail passenger."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

* A journey from Markinch to Edinburgh is 32.9 miles, takes 52 minutes and costs £225.50 per month.

* A journey from Stirling to Edinburgh is 43.4 miles, takes 56 minutes and costs £172.10 per month.

* A journey from Cupar to Edinburgh is 42.9 miles, takes 1 hour 6 minutes and costs £240.40 per month.

* A journey from Larbert to Edinburgh is 39.6 miles, takes 53 minutes and costs £149.40 per month.

The Government's announcement came in an answer to a Parliamentary Question.

The Scottish Government

November 2008

Index Heading: Finance and Sustainable Growth

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome is of its review of rail fares policy in Scotland.

(S3W-17913)

Stewart Stevenson: I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government will continue its fares policy at RPI+1% for regulated fares and that there will be no change in balance between regulated and unregulated fares.

In addition, we have looked at the position in the Strathclyde area. Ministers will align Strathclyde fares changes with the rest of Scotland from January 2009. So that Strathclyde passengers are not adversely affected by the earlier increase ministers have secured a lower rate of increase to Strathclyde fares at 4%. Strathclyde fares would have increased by 6% in May 2009.

Both of these measures are consistent with the aims of Scotland's Railways; they will maintain the affordability of passenger rail travel and simplify fares arrangements.